what I think I thought…

A week ago I got into a pseudo debate about a YouTube video of a wedding.  The person on the other side was saying it defamed the sacredness of marriage…I didn’t agree.  One of his arguments pointed to the use of a “secular” song during the ceremony.
Now putting all of the rest of the argument aside for a moment let me respond to this issue.
The church has done a huge disservice to its people and to the world we live in by creating a line between the secular and the sacred…a line that god never draws.  We use terms like…Christian bookstore…Christian T-Shirt…Christian band…there are even Christian breath mints.  But here is the problem…we have taken the word Christian…which was supposed to be a noun…and turned it into an adjective.  Acts 11:26 says, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”  They weren’t called christian people…that would be redundant.  They didn’t make up a christian coalition…that wouldn’t make since.  Christian means “little Christs” or those belonging to Christ.  It was a noun not an adjective.

So we have bought into this mindset that if it has not been labeled “Christian” by our sects bookstore, music company, publishing house, youth pastor or TV Evangelist…then it has no kingdom value.  But your Bible teaches you different.

Let me just share a couple of instance.

Acts 17 is the famous teaching on Mars Hill.  Paul is walking through Athens in their “houses of worship”…by no means “Christian” mind you…and he quotes an inscription from their temple and applies it to God.

Titus 1:12:  Paul makes a statement about Cretan men…and quotes a Cretan poet named Epimenides from the 6th century BC…he was a Pagan, not a god follower and because he came 600 years before Christ…there is absolutely NO WAY he could be “Christian”…yet Epidemenides words are recorded in your Bible…meaning now they are the Word of God for you.

I Cor. 15:33: says “don’t be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”  We have all heard it taught.  Our youth minister used that line to teach us not to hang out with bad people.  But what you probably didn’t know was that line is a quote from the Greek comedy Thias written by a Greek poet named Menander.  He was not “christian”…but what he said was true and Paul understood something we need to understand…if it true…no matter who says it…it is of God.

I think Jesus said something to the effect…I am the way and the Truth and the Life…if it is true it belongs to Jesus…it doesn’t matter who says.

And the flip side to that is just because a “Christian” says it, writes it, sings it, sells it…doesn’t make it true.  I can’t tell you how many books, songs, sermons, videos, labeled christian…don’t match with the word of God.

So here is my point.  1 Thess. 5:21 says, “Test everything.  Hold onto the good.”  That is what we have been commanded to do.  Dismissing things because they haven’t been labeled “Christian” or trusting something simply because someone else labeled it “Christian”…is breaking this command.  We are test everything.  Hold onto the good.  No matter where it comes from.

• Had a Great day at PCC.  Camping out in the book of James will be great for all of us.

• I know today’s topic hit home for a lot of families.  It is inevitable for all of us…but I know for some this past year has been particularly difficult.

• Remember:  DON’T GIVE UP!

• Band did a great job today…thanks guys for all you do in helping us express praise to God.

• Had a lot of comments about the windshield wiper story…YES it was absolutely true.

• I wasn’t kidding…the sound of people sharing with each other about their trials and what God was teaching them through it was one of their greatest sounds I have heard in that sanctuary.  I would love to hear your feedback on that part of our service.

• If you didn’t get a study guide to this series you can stop by the office this week and we will get you one or you can pick one up next week.  Our hope is you will spend a few minutes with the book each day as we digest what God wants to teach us through this little letter.

• Did some training with some of our Life Group leaders tonight.  Getting pumped about seeing them launch this fall.  If you haven’t gotten involved before…make plans now to be a part.  More info coming.

• Students got back for Christ in Youth conference in CA tonight.  We had a couple of students get baptized in the ocean and will proably have a few more in the coming weeks at PCC.  That never gets old.  Can’t wait to hear all about it.

• Been a good day.  Glad to be a part of what God is doing at/through PCC right now.

Doing some reading through 1 Peter this morning…

Struck by how often we miss the point.

The book begins by talking about how Christ has brought us into a living hope…that is a loaded phrase right there…through his resurrection and has given us an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  and he says in verse 5 it is kept in heaven for you, “who through faith are shielded by Gods power.”

Did you know you were shielded by God’s power through faith in Christ?

I have never fought in a battle…much less a battle where shields are used.  But I am smart enough to understand shields are used to protect someone from the things that are trying to harm them.  A person behind the shield is protected.  But here is the thing…God isn’t worried about protecting the same thing I am worried about protecting.

If I were to make a list of the things I wanted protected by the “shield of God’s power” I would want my family protected, meaning no buglers or cancer or child molesters.  I would want my health protected, never go through chemo or be in a wheel chair. I would want to never be in a car accident or lose a job or not have the money I needed to keep my middle class lifestyle alive.  I would NEVER want to go to jail…for any reason…or have to endure long lasting pain of any kind.  That is what my heart hopes for when I read that I am “Shielded by Gods power.”

But here is the deal…turns out…God doesn’t really care about shielding that too much.  In fact the crazy thing is…right after hearing this great truth of being shielded by God’s power Peter follows it up with verse 6…”in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”

What?  Suffer grief…I thought I was shielded?  All kinds of trials…I though God’s power was protecting me?  If I am shielded by God’s power then why am I suffering grief in all kinds of trials?  If I am suffering grief what exactly is God shielding?

Turns out God is protecting something much more important.  Your inheritance…verse 4…and your salvation…verse 9.

No matter what you go temporary hurt you are going through here…the power of God is protecting your eternity with every thing he has.

The question is…is that enough for you?

(…on Monday morning)

• This series has been one of my favorite.  Not because I have this all figured out…precisely the opposite.  I have such a long way to go in learning to love my wife as Christ loves the church.

• Have heard some great comments on how people are putting hands and feet on this series…had one lady tell me almost in tears that her husband of nearly 60 years before hanging up the phone told he he loved her.  Her comment, “you don’t know how much that means…he just doesn’t do that.”  Had another lady in her late sixties pull me aside and thank me because her husband gave up her a pat on the butt that week!

• What an awesome (not awesome as in cool or hip…but as in frightening and daunting) responsibility it is to know my union with my bride is a celestial copy of union of Christ and the church.  WOW!

• I have started to get some feedback from some people attending the GreatDates.  Please check them out on our website and GO.  And when you are done let us know how it went by emailing greatdates@prescottchristian.com

• We are kicking off a new series this weekend…we are going to spend the next few weeks camped out in the book of James.

• He starts off the book talking about “Trials of many kinds…”  Know anyone that might be applicable too?  If so get them here this weekend.
• We have officially entered the new millennium…(we are just 9 years behind!).  PCC sermons are now on Itunes.  Check out the PCC Podcast page by searching Prescott Christian Church in the Itunes store!

Been reading through Joshua in for the last few mornings.  Was struck by a sentence in 5:14.
Joshua is heading toward Jericho scoping it out to take it down, when a “man” with a drawn sword appears in front of him.  Joshua’s first response…and ours too…was to ask, “are you for us or for our enemies.”  It seems like a logical questions.  Isn’t that what we all want to know?  Are you for us or against us?  But the “mans” response was telling.

“Neither.”

He makes it clear…I am not for you and I am not for them.

He goes on to say…”As commander of the Army of the Lord I have now come.”

And Joshua hit his face.

Joshua made the same mistake we make.  He had been invited on a mission with God…but he thought it was his mission. So his first question was are for me?  I am about to do something here…are you here to help me?  I think the angel must have laughed…”Ah…no. I am not for you.  I am the representative of God here.  I don’t join you, you join me.  So here is the real question…are YOU for us or for our enemies?”  It was Joshua who needed to pick a side…not the other way around.

How many times in minisry to we pray for God to bless this or bless that.  In essence we are saying to God…are you going to be for this?  Will you join us in what we are about to do?  But I think God laughs.  I am not here to join you…I have called you to join me.  But if you don’t thats ok.  Your disobedience isn’t enough to thrawt my plan.

Let’s remember…God is the one who has the ability to accomplish what he wants accomplished in your life.  It is up to him not up to you.  Someone once said…”you just obey and trust God with the consequences.”  It is his mission…it is our co-missnion..”

My life works better when I stop trying to get God to be for me…and I start trying to get me to be for God.

Well sometimes there isn’t time to put everything in a sermon you want to.   Below is an article claimed to come from a 1954 Home Economics Textbook.  It is entitled How to be a good Wife.   I thought it would have been a funny way to introduce the topic of the husbands need for Domestic Support…Enjoy!

How To be a Good Wife

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home, and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

• Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

• Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

• Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

• Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home.

• Some don’ts: Don’t greet him with problems or complaints. Don’t complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

• Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first

• Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

• The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

• A good wife always knows her place.

What do you think about that?

So on Fathers Day just a few weeks ago…I shared some info about how scientists had created human sperm cells from female embryonic stem cells, and made the comment that there is a growing segment of our society that says men don’t have a place…

Well just so you don’t think I am crazy check out this video from ABC News: Nightline and see for yourself.

• I am amazed and humbled that I am a part of a community of believers that has multiple 60 year old marriages in it.

• I am saddened that one of those marriages ended this week.  We’ll see you soon Mr. Bailey.

• Preaching on “treating others better than yourself” is a lot simpler than actually living it out.

• I am really excited about the “Great Dates.”  They will be posted on the website this week and available for pick up at the welcome center next weekend.

• Met a lot of new faces today…lot of out of towners up for the holiday.  Missed a lot of regular faces, too.

• Thinking about some big things for this fall.  Can’t wait t see what God will do.

• Looking forward to a day off with the family tomorrow.  Hope too see you next weekend.

Got a little rain today.  This is the most we have seen it rain in AZ.

But I am sitting here an hour later and the sun is shining, the rocks are dry and my son is muddy.  This is the good life.

Monsoon